Podcasts about little home

The month of June brings families together. There are still graduations, showers, weddings, birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries, and it is the month for Father's Day. Togetherness can strengthen the family ties. The summer is a time to do some summer reading as a family. Perhaps at the dinner table, read something out loud to your family. Tomorrow night, another member of the family can read something. A news story, a poem, history or humor, anything really. Each night, a different family member can read a selection or share something they have read. Imagine the wide range of subjects your family would read in the 365 days of the year. It is an enriching experience and it doesn't cost a dime.It is predicted that more families will be traveling by car this summer rather than fly. Have you ever been to the little town on the prairie at DeSmet, South Dakota? Last year, I was privileged to attend the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant in the Natural Prairie Stage setting. It is a great family experience. I understand the theme this year is Prairie Patchwork. People from all over America and even other countries attend the pageant and all the activities one will experience. The outdoor drama is based on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose writings provided the inspiration for TV's Little House on the Prairie. The Wilder pageant is a family oriented outdoor drama. It is a live performance with all characters from the DeSmet area. Laura narrates the story reflecting on her life at DeSmet, South Dakota in the 1800s. After attending the pageant, I personally felt a deeper appreciation of the joys and hardships that challenged our ancestors when settling in the prairie. This year, the dates for the pageant are June 28, 29th, and 30th, and in July, they are July 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, and 14th. The gates open at 7 p.m. You will want to go sooner so you will see the schoolhouse where Laura taught and other buildings and enjoy some rides. A real fun family experience.From a friend in Florida came these thoughts: “Where there is love, the heart is light, where there is love, there is a song. To help when things are going wrong, where there is love, there is a smile, to make all things seem more worthwhile. Where there is love, there is a quiet peace, a tranquil place, where turmoils cease.” Thought for the day: When someone can't smile, give them yours.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea Written by Dr. Luetta G Werner. Published in the Marion Record, June 20th, 2002.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

It is interesting to know that Father's Day, which this year will be celebrated on June 16th, was, ironically, inspired by a Mother's Day sermon. Mrs. John Bruce Dodd, a Spokane Washington artist, is credited with fostering Father's Day. She got the idea while listening to her minister deliver an impassioned sermon on motherhood. Mrs. Dodd's mother had died young, so her father had to raise 6 children alone. As she listened to the minister, praise mothers for the hardship they endured in raising their children and tending to all the family needs. She reflected on her father's sacrifices, and speculated that there must be other fathers whose similar sacrifices went unrecognized. In a letter to the president of the Spokane Ministerial Association, Mrs. Dodd proposed a day to honor fathers. She suggested June 5th, her father's birthday, the association approved the idea, and the Spokane YMCA publicized it. However, the suggested date didn't allow the ministers enough time to prepare sermons, so the celebrated was scheduled for the 3rd Sunday in June. Thursday on June 19th, 1910. Spokane became the 1st city to honor fathers with a special day. A strong push for the National Father's Day came from Harry C. Meek, a president of the Uptown Lions Club of Chicago. Through the lions, or though the lions crowned him the originator of Father's Day, Meek admitted that the idea 1st occurred to him in 1915. 5 years after Mrs. Dodd's suggestion. He suggested it in speeches before several Lions Clubs, and the idea caught on. The following year, President Wilson's participation in Father's Day ceremony by pressing the button in the nation's capital which unfurled the flag in Spokane. Despite this national gesture, many sections of the country did not take part. President Coolidge also showed interest in creating a national day to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children while in office. And in 1936, the National Father's Day committee was formed in New York City to promote the celebration actively on the national level. It was in 1957 that Senator Margaret Chase Smith stated that the official recognition of Mother's Day required that Father's Day receive the same honor. She stated that, “Congress has been guilty now for 40 years of the worst possible oversight, to say the least, perpetuated against the gallant of fathers, young and old of our land,” she said in her proposal. It was in 1972, the long wait for a national recognition came to an end when President Nixon signed the congressional resolution giving Father's Day the same status as Mother's Day. And so, now we know the rest of the story about Father's Day. Celebrate Father's Day, 2002. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea Written by Dr. Luetta G Werner. Published in the Marion Record, June 13th, 2002.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The 2nd Sunday in June is children's day. The following Sunday we celebrate Father's Day. A great deal of concern has been focused on our children as the dawn of a new century is fast approaching. Children who have graduated this last year in the 20th century are told that they will be shaping the next century. What a challenge for our children and our grandchildren. Many years ago, an author by the name of Dorothy Law Nolte wrote these thoughts about children and what they learn from those around them.Children learn what they live. If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient. If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence. If children live with praise they learn to appreciate. If children live with fairness, they learn justice. If children live with security, they learn to have faith. If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves. If children live with acceptance and friendship, they learn to find love in the world. Children are our teachers. They walk with us, or push us, through a process of purification to our own maturity. How can we respect and honor this gift? I am reminded of what former First Lady, Barbara Bush, stated in a graduation speech. She said, 100 years from now, it will not matter what your bank account has, or what sort of house you lived in, or the kind of car you drove. But the world may be different because you were important in the life of a child. Celebrate the gift of a child on children's day.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea Written by Dr. Luetta G Werner. Published in the Marion Record, June 10th, 1999.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

It is gardening time. It was a beautiful spring day when 6 year old grandson Trevor and his old grandma decided to plant the garden and then plant flowers in the flower pots. Trevor patiently helped plant the potatoes, better boy tomatoes, carrots, and broccoli. After the completion of the gardening project, we watered the garden. I suggested to Trevor that if it did not rain, he could pray for rain for the planted garden. His reply was immediate and very emphatic. “Grandma, I will leave that job up to you.” And believe me, this grandma is thankful for answered prayer as rain from heaven watered at the planted garden.Today is National Day of Prayer. The emphasis this year is to pray for our leaders. People everywhere have become more aware of the power of intercessory prayer. The National Day of Prayer has been an American tradition since the Continental Congress 1st declared its need for godly wisdom in 1775. In 1988, the law set the day as the 1st Thursday in May. Thanks, dear readers, for the Easter messages and letters. Your words of encouragement bless my day. Encourage your family and friends in their prayer ministry. A dear friend wrote me with her Easter message that she has now become involved in a prayer ministry in her church. And a prayer warrior she has become because someone has given her a word of encouragement. Her prayerful thoughts were published in decision magazine on page 40….“The Quiet Heart.” Struggling with feelings of aggravation, irritation, frustration, indignation, resignation. I went outside to pray. A yellow crocus seemed to say, with shouts of proclamation. Crucifixion, resurrection, redemption, jubilation, He's alive, and I'm forgiven. Written by Maxine Kelly from Lincoln, Nebraska.Warm thoughts: If you pray for another, you will be helped yourself. Yiddish proverb. For more of our nation's life is shaped by prayer than is formed by legislation. The single most important action contributing to whatever health and strength there is in our land. Is prayer. May the month of May bring you many warm and prayerful thoughts!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea Written by Dr. Luetta G Werner. Published in the Marion Record, May 4th, 2000.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When you read this warm thoughts column, it will be just a couple days before Mother's Day. Many families will be together on this special family day honoring their mother. Recently, I read an essay, a letter a mother wrote to her daughter. It touched my heart and no doubt will be taped on a kitchen cabinet or refrigerator. And so I will share it with you, my readers.Dear daughter, although you are only 4 years old and will not understand what I am saying, I feel the need to write this letter and put it away for you to read many years from now. When you were an infant, and the newness of being a mother wore off, I couldn't wait until you grew up. At 1st I found myself wishing, if only she would start walking. And then, if only she would start talking. One day, I suddenly realized that you were out of diapers. You were indeed walking and talking, and pretty soon you would be going off to school. I remember the morning your father and I brought your baby sister home from the hospital. You and I had been apart 6 days. When the door opened, I saw you standing there with your angel smile. You seem so big compared to the baby I was holding in my arms. It was hard to imagine you were once that small. I suddenly realized how much of your babyhood I had wished away. Being a mother is demanding. It robs you of so many freedoms, and I resented the fact that I had so many added responsibilities. And then I looked down at your soft curls and your trusting eyes. Suddenly, I felt ashamed. My heart almost broke. I cannot relive those first 4 years, but I have been trying to make them up to you. And to myself. I hope and pray that when your first child is born, you will be wiser and more mature than I was. I hope you will enjoy every phase of your child's growing up, and not wish they would hurry and pass, so you could be free of the burdens of motherhood. You and I will have our share of heated words and angry battles in the years to come. There will be days when we will find it impossible to please each other. I will secretly wish that you would hurry and graduate from high school so I could send you off to college and be rid of you. Life rushes by all too rapidly. My darling daughter, especially the lovely days and the beautiful times. Be smarter than your mother was. Don't let a single moment slip away, unsavored or unappreciated. These days are priceless and afford you the greatest opportunities for fulfillment. Never again will your heart be so full. All my love, mother.Warm thought. Cherish each moment with your children and your grandchildren. Happy Mother's Day!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea Written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, May 1st, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

This is the last day of April. The month of April has been national poetry month. It is interesting that a dear friend in Florida sent me in the mail an original poem she wrote on her birthday. It is such a joy to be able to share with the readers of this warm thoughts column, the gems of thought and poetry. So thanks, Sarah Gray, for her precious thoughts.Little pleasures. Oh, the joy of little pleasures tucked away in memory's treasures. Hummingbirds and butterflies, the clear blue of summer skies. Fragrant flowers wet with dew, prism colors of rainbows hue. Baby's breath, and baby's soft skin. Little drools on baby's chin. Baby smiles, and babies coos, The things that make baby book news. A pretty card with words that rhyme. The distant peal of church bells chime. Quiet time, a good book, heads that turn for a second look. Time spent together, small talk, an afternoon nap, or an afternoon walk. A smile exchanged over a cup of tea, A confidence confided just to me. A box of chocolate, a compliment, when most needed, heaven sent. The peaceful calm of a gentle breeze, I sense God's touch in all of these. A phone call, a visit from a friend, Little pleasures just never end.This past week, poetry took precedence over politics at the White House. President Clinton and First Lady, Hillary Roddam Clinton, hosted the present and two past poets laureate. The trio read from the Legacy of American Poetry. The event is a third in a series of presidential millennium evenings designed to showcase the views of scholars and artists as the century closes. Thanks again, dear readers, for sharing your warm thoughts.More warm thoughts: How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it. Remember, the first Thursday in May is National Day of Prayer. May you have many warm thoughts in this post-Easter season.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, April 30th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Last week, we learned some thoughts from the kids and computers. In the past, I've received some interesting comments from my readers in my peer group who are having a growing edge with all of this computer technology. I have been reading some perspectives on aging and how to be a kid again. And so I will share these thoughts found on the internet…perhaps it is the 1st draft.Be a kid again. Dot all your i's with smiley faces. Sing into your hairbrush. Grow a milk mustache. Read the funnies. Throw the rest of the paper away. Dunk your cookies. Step carefully over sidewalk cracks. Try to get someone to trade you a better sandwich. Give someone a hug around the neck. Blow the wrapper off a straw. Refuse to eat crust. Make a face the next time somebody tells you no. Ask why a lot. Have someone read you a story. Wear your favorite shirt with your favorite pants even if they don't match. Eat dessert first. Put an orange slice in your mouth, peel side out, and smile at people. Remember to say your prayers. Ride a roller coaster 2 times in a row. Run through the sprinkler with all your clothes on. Lick all the cream out of an Oreo before you eat the cookie part. Eat just the chocolate stripe out of your Neapolitan ice cream. Start thinking now about what you want for your next birthday. Lie on your back in a field and look at the pictures in the clouds. Make a slurping sound with your straw when you get to the bottom of a drink…found on the internet. And don't forget to say your prayers.One more closing thought: international walk day is April 30. On that day, leave your car at home, walk wherever you have to go, and enjoy the spring weather and the surroundings. And remember to mark your calendar for April 30th!Warm Thought: Count your age by friends, not years, and count your life by smiles, not tears. May you have many warm thoughts in the springtime.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, April 23, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

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Here I go again, in my thoughts about listening to the master teachers in my life, the children. As we continue to experience rapid changes in technology, I realize every day it is my grandchildren who will be teaching me the changes in this computer world we now live in. And so I listened to the comments collected from computer children, ages 10 to 15. These are students who spend an average of 10 hours a week working in their computer labs at school and home.Why do you like learning from a computer?John: Computers are patient. They never yell at you.Josh: You can work at your own pace. don't have to wait for the rest of the class to catch up.Joy: If you get sick of it, you can turn it off.How does working on the computer make you feel?Jared: I feel like I'm in charge of everything. Matthew: I feel like I'm the boss. I can control it.What do you like most about computers?John: You can use your imagination to program games.Stephen: I like the technology. I've always been interested in electronics and I like to be on the cutting edge of what's new.Do you think computers will ever replace school?John: No, teachers have feelings. You can't have a conversation with a computer.Aaron: If you worked with a computer all day, you wouldn't know how to get along with people.Do you like being able to learn things without anyone helping you?Michelle: It builds your confidence to be able to learn something by yourself.Joy: I feel smart when I configure things out myself.How do you feel about knowing more things about a computer than your parents?Alan: It's nice to have your parents ask you questions instead of you always asking them. Joy: We get to teach them for a change.How can a computer help your parents? Jamie: It can help them with business and taxes.Kara: Maybe make them less cranky because they would have more free time.Josh: They could do things quicker and have more time for other things.Joey told his father that he needed a computer for his homework. His father said, “You don't need a computer. When Abraham Lincoln was your age, he studied by candlelight in a log cabin.” “Yes, I know, dad.” And he thought for a moment…”And when he was your age, he was the president of the United States.” We parents and grandparents learn each day from the children.Warm thought: Our computer broke down and we had to think. Have many warm thoughts on these warm spring days!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, April 16, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As families throughout the world look forward to celebrating the Easter season, I am overwhelmed with many warm thoughts and memories. Memories of the place where all the events of holy week took place are so real and meaningful to me. Many times I relive that experience of walking the Via Dolorosa, also known as the Way of Sorrows, when I was there on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We are all pilgrims, and an unknown author wrote the following prayerful thoughts.A Pilgrim's PrayerLord Jesus Christ, you were once a pilgrim in the Holy Land. We too have come as pilgrims to journey with you into the desert to listen to the powerful word of the God of Israel, spoken in our own deserts. We follow you into Galilee, to understand and experience your ministry of presence and healing. We come up to Jerusalem to join the great crowd that came to meet you crying, Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! We walk with you on the road to Golgotha, and share in your passion, seeing you nailed to the cross, we bow down before your suffering and dying. We journey with you on the road to Emmaus, and discover you in the breaking and sharing of the word and the bread. Show us the glory of your resurrection. Open our eyes, our hearts, and our minds, so that we may find you not only in ancient stones, but in the midst of your holy people, and among all those who thirst for you wherever they may be. Write your gospel upon our hearts, send us forth carrying the good news. Continue to lead us and guide us on our pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem.More thoughts to ponder: A Simple Path by Mother Theresa. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace. May you have a joyful Easter season!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, April 2, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

It was five years ago that I wrote the first Warm Thoughts column over a cup of tea. I can remember the moment as if it happened yesterday. The first day of spring in 1993 was a beautiful springy day. Surprise, surprise! On Sunday morning, following that first day of spring, I awoke to a winter wonderland and a real South Dakota prairie blizzard. However, my pioneer spirit urged me to go to church that morning. Surprise, surprise! I was the only parishioner in church that morning. I was not aware that weather conditions were that severe to call off church services. What a lonely feeling.I later joked that the pastor went through the entire message and even shook my hand as I left the services. That afternoon, as the north winds blow and snow covered the plains, I sat down at my old typewriter, and typed the very first column of warm thoughts, as I sipped a cup of tea. And I had many warm feelings, as I appreciated a warm and safe home as the winds blew. Throughout these years, you, the readers, have encouraged me and enabled me to keep on keeping on writing enthusiastically. You have been the angels in my life, for my reader of this warm thoughts column have been my friends and my friends' readers.Together we have shared many joys and challenges in our daily lives, and you have been the greatest. Thanks for all you have shared and contributed to this column. Your warm thoughts have often written this column. And so I share these warm thoughts written by an unknown author, “Ode to Good Friends.” It has been my joy in life to find, at every turning of the road, the strong arm of a comrade kind, to help me onward with my load. And since I have no gold to give, and love alone must make amends, The only prayer is while I live, God make me worthy of my friends. Dear readers, you have to believe the buds will blow, Believe in the grass in the days of snow. Ah, that's the reason a bird can sing…On his darkest day, he believes in spring. Author unknown. Believe it is spring, happy spring!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie, Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, March 26th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Glancing at the calendar, I note that the first day of spring is just a few days away as I write this Warm Thoughts column. Yes, another spring is here this month, and the colors of spring will soon be all around us.The redbird and robins will sing their songs of cheer, The green frogs will start croaking in the babbling brook, The flowers, grass, and trees will come to life. The geese and ducks will fly high as they quack and giggle in the sky. Children's joyful voices will fill the air as farmers plant seeds with hopes and prayer. Another spring will soon be here. We love to welcome sweet springtime. It is indeed a time of promise, hope, and joy.An unknown author once wrote, “Every day can be a spring in your life, even though you are approaching the winter of your life and those sunset years.” As I was deep in thought about spring and the colors of springtime, a dear friend shared a poem entitled, “Winter Colors.” Some call winter dismal. I surely disagree. Winter has its colors, if you only stop to see. Red cardinal skipping through the hedge, The shimmering blue of the pond's water's edge. The mallard's head of velvet green, Made brilliant by the sun's golden sheen. The color of winter is not dead, But filled with colorful hues instead. Author unknown.March 22nd is “As young as you feel day.”Everyone can take this day to remember that they are no older than they feel. March 15th is Hug a Farmer Day, and the week of March 15th is National Agriculture Week, dedicated to the farmers of America, and is designated to educate the people about agriculture in the United States. Farewell winter, and we welcome spring. Each season brings with it colors to brighten our lives.More Warm Thoughts: As we watch for the signs of spring, let us hold the warmth of all those blessings of our seasons on our hearts. May you have many warm thoughts this spring season.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie, Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, March 19th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Recently, I attended a retreat at Cedar Shore in Chamberlain, South Dakota. It was a women's retreat, and all generations were present from the great grandmothers to the young mother with her baby daughter. It was a learning experience about the different generations which I would like to share with you this week and during family month.1900 to 1925: The missionary generation, the happiest, most satisfied generation, this generation values family, God, and church. 99 Nobel Peace Prizes have been won by this generation.1926 to 1945 is the sandwich generation. 50000000 in the US. They are sandwiched between boomerang children and aging parents. Family, school, church are important. This generation also believes in hard work, frugality, loyalty. Early retiring husbands are in this generation. This sandwich generation is eager to reach out to other cultures. Some joined the Peace Corps.1946 to 1964: Our baby boomers. There are 76000000 in the US. They make up 45% of the adult population. Twice as many went to college as their parents. They are against sexism. They want help with their children and parents. They are the first generation to have television. 70% of boomer women work outside the home. They waited until their 30s to have their babies. Two out of three boomer women have been divorced. They like quality projects and want lots of choices and options. They long for traditional values in raising children.1965 to 1976 are the baby busters. There are 40 million in the US. They are also called the 13th generation - generation Y. They were born during the era of cable TV, fluctuating economy, and desert storm. They are high tech, high touch, low self-esteem. They do not like planning and preparation. They are accustomed to divorce, they are survivors, and are expected to become more conservative during midlife crisis. They want connection and diversity.1977 to 1995 are the baby boomlets, also known as the millennial generation. This generation is less materialistic and more social conscious. They are highly informed. They believe religion and what parents believe is not so important. They are interested in community projects and mission endeavors. Will they become a missionary generation like their forefathers and foremothers? They may, if there are enough left in that generation to mentor them.As we reflect on the past century, it is interesting that it is the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize. We even have a stamp to remind us about this anniversary. Mother Teresa was one of the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. When she was asked, how can we bring peace to the world? she answered, “Just go home and love your family.” We are not meant to do great things for God, but small things, with great love. - Mother Teresa.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, March 17th, 2001.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Right after St. Valentine's Day was history, I immediately saw St. Patrick's Day cards and decorations in the stores. There may be signs of winter and white snow around us, but the shamrock decorations of green are symbolic of life, and soon we'll have St. Pat's Day and Spring.I have always been curious about Bishop Patrick and why people considered him a saint in their lives. In my research, I read about the legend of the shamrock, and will share these thoughts with you. Long ago, when Ireland was the land of druids, there was a great bishop, Patrick by name, who came to teach the word of God throughout the country. This saint, for he was indeed a saint, was well loved everywhere he went. One day, however, a group of his followers came to him and admitted that it was difficult for them to believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. St. Patrick reflected a moment, and then, stooping down, he plucked a leaf from the shamrock and held it before them, bidding them to behold the living example of the three in one. The simple beauty of this explanation convinced these skeptics, and from that day the shamrock has been revered throughout Ireland.Throughout the years, I have always been so inspired by the wit and humor of my Irish friends. They have blessed my life and given me an appreciation of their culture and their appreciation of family and friends. This Irish saying could be for us all, even though we may now be able to say we have a bit of Irish.Family and Friends: The two things we're most grateful for are our family and our friends. The care they have provided, the love so strong and true, the thoughtfulness that's spoken, in words and actions too. Our grandmas and our grandpas, our mothers and our dads, our brothers and our sisters, are there through good and bad. They're special friends to share with, Our smiles, our hopes, our fears, When counting all God's blessings, Gifts of love that never end, We could count on friends and family, And our family, as true friends. Irish Grerand Butler.More Irish thoughts: May the raindrops fall by lightly on your brow. May the soft winds freshen your spirit. May the sunshine brighten your heart. May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you, and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love. Have a special day on St. Patrick's Day!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, March 12th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

In today's episode of The Life of KG, Katie sits down with Andrea from Andrea Danielle, a former teen mum who refused to let her circumstances define her future. What started as a massage bed in her living room has now grown into a fully booked home salon, a team member, sold-out workshops, kids pamper parties, a mentoring business, and a brand-new regulated training academy.If you've ever worked from home, or you want to, this episode proves just how far you can go without ever stepping onto a high street.This conversation is raw, inspiring, and packed with real strategies you can take into your own business today.In This Episode, We Cover:Becoming a mum at 16 and rebuilding her life with zero excusesStarting a beauty business from the living room (with a toddler watching TV!)Growing into a full home salon and hiring her first employeeTripling her income after joining the KG MastermindThe freedom of being able to pay bills without stressCreating children's pamper parties & involving her daughterBuilding confidence on camera and finding her voiceUsing her story to land press features and local mediaLaunching a regulated training school (Level 1, Level 5 & Level 7)Understanding the aesthetics regulation changesWhy home salons can be more profitable than high street salonsThe importance of having a business coach, community & supportWork With KatieIf you're ready to stop winging it and actually grow your business with strategy, support, and accountability, apply for the KG Mastermind here:

Recently, I attended a couple of exciting basketball games while visiting my family in Nebraska. My granddaughter performed as a cheerleader, and the folder that listed the names and pictures of the players and cheerleaders was also the top 10 reasons to sport a winning attitude. I was impressed, and since many of the readers of this Warm Thoughts column attend the sports activities, I thought I would like to share these 10 reasons.10. Because taunting, trash talk, and intimidating behavior have no place in high school sports or any other level of sports. 9. Your admission allows you to watch these performances of highly impressionable 15 to 18 year old kids. Not a license to abuse coaches, officials, players, and other spectators. 8. You want others to treat you the way you want to be treated. And how many of us want to be treated with disrespect. 7. We need positive role models. 6. People don't always remember the final score, but they do remember the fans in section 3 who made fools of themselves. 5. Because coaches and officials who are also teachers in what they do. Why would you harass them in their classrooms? 4. A national survey indicates kids play high school sports to have fun. 3. It's how you play the game that counts. 2. It's simply the right thing to do. 1. Because sportsmanship begins with you. So here are the 10 reasons about attitudes and sports, whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game and your attitude is important!Of all the Warm Thoughts columns, I have written it in over 400 columns…The thoughts on attitude have received the most comments. I was pleased to see these 10 reasons to sport a winning attitude. You are in good company when you have a good attitude. You may want to call it the zeitgeist of the new millennium. Attitude has become the spirit of the age. “I am so thankful for people with good attitudes. I feel so uplifted by wonderful folks who have life affirming attitudes of gratitude.” Victor Frankel. Once stated, everything can be taken from a man but one thing, the last of the human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances. Andrew Scott Hamilton stated that the only disability in life is a bad attitude.More Warm Thoughts: The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life, attitude to me is more important than facts. Charles Swindle.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, February 22nd, 2001.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

President's Day is Monday, February 19th. We now celebrate all former presidents. We originally honored only George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, both whom had birthdays during the month of February, February 22nd and 12th, respectively. George Washington was the 1st and only president to be elected unanimously by the electoral college. He received all 69 of the votes. He was a first president with false teeth, and the first to appear on a postage stamp. He was our country's 1st president and was known as the father of our country. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican President and the first President to be assassinated. He was the first to support women's right to vote. There are four U.S. state capitals that are named after presidents. The president who have state capitals named after them are Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Who is your hero president? Abraham Lincoln has been my presidential hero of faith since the days that I attended the one room country school. As I studied the lives of our presidents, it was Lincoln who became my hero president, a man of great faith, courage, and compassion, and a man of prayer. Who can forget that Gettysburg address of 286 words? Today, students and dignitaries still are able to recite that famous speech. His writings and speeches are often quoted to this day. Lincoln was a 16th president of the United States. Throughout the years, I have been inspired by his thoughts, which are biblical. He learned to read from the Bible. Something to remember…”You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help little men by tearing down big men. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln. It was in 1863 that Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Many churches throughout the land may observe a day of prayer on President's Day, at which time they pray for the leaders of our country. Praying for our nation and for our leaders is no new thought. Instead, it has been encouraged throughout the ages. C. H. Spurgeon stated, “Whenever God determines to do a great work, he first sets his people to pray.” Pray for the leaders of our nation. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie, Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner, Published in the Marion Record, February 15, 2001.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Since February is National Children's Month, I thought about writing an essay on what my grandchildren have taught me. They are now in school with children of other cultures, and although they may have graduated from Crayola college, they are color blind and love their friends from other cultures. Recently, my grandson Trevor was teaching me to count to five in the Japanese language and even write the numbers. Since we will be celebrating Valentine's day next week, I have researched how to say I love you in 15 languages: German, French, Swedish, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Greenlandish, Finnish, Russian, Filipino, Korean, and Hawaiian. My deepest apologies if I mispronounced any of those. What is Love? By a teenager. "Love is an attitude. Love is a prayer for someone in sorrow, a heart in despair. Love extends good wishes for the gain of another. Love suffers long with the fault of a brother. Love gives water to a cup that's run dry. Love reaches low, love reaches high. Love seeks not his own at the expense of another. Love reaches God when it reaches a brother." This poem, What is Love, has a special place in my heart. I first heard that poem read by a young woman who is blind and read the poem with her fingers. A former student of mine from Florida sent me this poem - one of her favorites by Emily Matthews. A Poem for You: "A lifetime of love and a hug and a smile, a reason to visit and stay for a while. The strength of a bond that's destined to last, the joys of the present and the warmth of the past. These are the treasures a fortunate few are lucky to cherish all their lives through. These are the blessings on which we depend for these are the gifts of a very best friend.” Happy Valentine's Day!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record on February 8th, 2001Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The year 2001 is the Year of the Books, and January was National Book Month. The year 2001 is also the Year of the Child, and the month of February, Heart Month, is also National Children's month. Children can come up with pearls of wisdom that simply seem so amazing. I will share with you the wisdom of children who were asked by a teacher to write advice to their parents on how to raise children. 1. Don't give me everything I ask for. Sometimes I am just testing you to see how much I can get. 2. Don't always be giving orders. If you suggest something instead of giving a command, I will do it faster. 3. Don't keep changing your mind about what you want me to do. Make up your mind and stick to it. 4. Keep promises, both good and bad. If you promise a reward, make sure you give it to me. If you promise a punishment, make sure I get that too. 5. Don't compare me with anybody else, especially if the comparison will hurt somebody's feelings. I don't want to be considered smarter than anybody else, because it will hurt that person's feelings. If you make me out to be dumber than somebody else, then it will hurt my feelings. 6. Let me do as much for myself as I can. That's how I learn. If you do everything for me, I will never be able to do anything for myself. 7. Don't correct my mistakes in front of other people. Tell me how to improve when nobody is around. 8. Don't scream at me. It makes me scream back, and I don't want to be a screamer. Screamers sound awful. 9. Don't tell lies in front of me, or ask me to tell lies to help you out. It makes me think less of you and less of myself, even if I am supposed to be doing you a favor. 10. When I do something wrong, don't try to get me to tell you why I did it. Sometimes I don't know why myself. 11. Don't pay too much attention to me when I say I have a stomach ache. Playing sick can be a good way to get out of doing things I don't want to do, or going places I don't want to go. Make sure it's real. 12. When you are wrong about something, admit it. It won't hurt my opinion of you. It will make it easier for me to admit it when I'm wrong 13. Treat me like you would treat a friend. Then I will be your friend and you w be mine. Just because people are related does not mean they can't be polite and nice to each other. Can you guess how old these students were who wrote these 13 commandments? (not just 10!) They were in the fourth grade and ages 8 and 9 years old. What can I say? The children have given us their pearls of wisdom on how to raise children. All I can say is thanks to the children who made this first column in Heart Month so special. "The price of greatness is responsibility." Winston ChurchillWarm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record February 1st, 2001.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Among the many Christmas epistles received during the Christmas season was a letter from a dear old friend in Ohio. Olga has been a real inspiration to me. For many years, she has been a lifelong learner and a pioneer in the work of missions and ministry. Her letter arrived on the 12th day of December, as she had a busy Christmas season. She was born on December 24 and last year, celebrated her 100th birthday on Christmas Eve. I am really looking forward to her next letter filled with her many exciting experiences. She is living every minute of the rest of her life and enjoying the learning process. Whatever our calling in life may be, we can never stop learning. I need to keep on learning if I want to keep up with life and all its changes. We remember John Glenn's recent trip into space at 77 years of age. It reminds us that in today's world, many senior citizens are fulfilling dreams that were forgotten. Perhaps they had to put their dreams on hold because of circumstances in their lives. We may not be able to orbit hundreds of miles or above the earth like John Glenn did this past year. However, with determination and a lot of creativity, we can be a vital part of our community at any age. I was recently informed that people who are involved in volunteer services live longer and have rich and productive lives. Tom Brokaw, NBC anchor, has recently written the book entitled "The Greatest Generation." If you were born in the second half of this century, you owe your freedom, your prosperity, and perhaps your life, to the selfless teens and 20 somethings who fought in World War II. Their courage followed by their sense of vision in the post war years changed the world. He calls this generation "the greatest generation" that ever lived. They are the generation that survived the misery of the depression to gear up to fight in World War Two. Adversity led to their great maturity. They were 21 years old and faced life with many challenges. Now, many are senior citizens and dying at the rate of 100 a day. We need to listen to them. They were the heroes of World War II. They are an inspiration to us and have so much to share with us. Brokaw and his new book The Greatest Generation, argues that these men and women overshadow even the founding fathers in Abraham Lincoln's generation. He states, they stepped up and saved the world. Younger people will be astonished. They'll look at their grandparents in a different way. A New Year Thought: The author of this quote is unknown. It was quoted by England's King George the fifth when he gave the New Year's greeting to the world, he stated, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God that shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way." Live every moment of the rest of your life! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record January 21st, 1999.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The following column appeared on January 29th, 1998. It was a favorite column among the readers, and maybe again, for those who are celebrating birthdays this month. After I delivered last week's Warm Thoughts column, I walked to the post office. At the counter stood someone receiving a parcel. It was her 90th birthday that day. I stood there in amazement and deep in thought as she drove away alone on the streets that were glazed with ice. I just thought, "Here is a lady who understands what celebrating life each day really means. She really lives every day of her life." In my mail that day came a letter from a longtime friend and reader of Warm Thoughts. She related about how her friends and family gave her a warm reception on her 80th birthday. She shared with me one of the readings her daughter read, and I feel you too, will enjoy these Warm Thoughts today. "Dear Lord, I'm 80 and there's much I haven't done. I hope, dear Lord, you'll let me live until I'm 81. But then, if I haven't finished all I want to do, would you let me stay a while until I'm 82? So many places I want to go, so very much to see. Do you think that you could manage to make it 83? The world is changing very fast, there's so much more in store. I'd like it very much to live until I'm 84. And if by then, I'm still alive, I'd like to stay till 85! More planes will be up in the air, so I'd really like a stick and see what happens to the world when I turn 86. I know, dear Lord, it's much to ask, and it must be nice in heaven. But I'd really like to stay until I'm 87! I know by then I won't be fast and sometimes I will be late, but I would be so pleased to be around at 88. I will have seen so many things and had a wonderful time. So I'm sure that I'll be willing to leave at the age of 89. Maybe, just one more thing I'd like to say, "Dear Lord, I thank you kindly. But if it's okay with you, I'd love to live past 90!" More Warm Thoughts: Life is a gift. Life is what we make it. Always has been, always will be. Grandma Moses. Celebrate each day of your life! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record January 15th, 2004.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Have you made New Year's resolutions? A recent study informed us that many who make New Year's resolution have already broken them after two weeks. Some people do make it to Valentine's Day. In my collection of thoughts on the new year, I found an article that appeared in a Nebraska newspaper on January 2nd, 1914. As we read these thoughts, can we see ourselves applying it in our lives? 85 years later in the year 1999 the last year in this century? "Have Courage. At the beginning of a glad New Year, instead of making many resolutions try to increase your storage of courage. Have the courage to tell a man why you will lend him your money. Have the courage to wear your old clothes until you can pay for new ones. Have the courage to prefer comfort and prosperity, to fashion in all things. Have the courage to obey your maker at the risk of being ridiculed by men. Have the courage to discharge a debt while you have the money in your pocket. Have the courage to provide for the entertainment of your friends within your means, not beyond them. Have the courage to do without what you do not need, however much your eyes may covet it. Have the courage to acknowledge your ignorance rather than to seek credit for knowledge under false pretenses. Have the courage to speak your mind when it is necessary that you should do so, and to hold your tongue when it is prudent to do so. Have the courage to show that your respect, honesty, and whatever guise it appears, and your contempt for dishonest duplicity by whomever exhibited. Have the courage to cut the most agreeable acquaintance you have when convinced he lacks principle - a friend should bear with a friend's infirmities, but not his vices."The above thoughts were written over 80 years ago. Can they be applied to the 90s and the next century? I think of what JC Penney stated when he was 95 years old. He said, "My eyesight may be getting weaker, but my vision is increasing." He could see tomorrow with a vision for the future. Let's keep the vision for a future filled with hope.Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today, if well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and tomorrow is a vision of hope. Make every day count in 1999!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, January 14th, 1999.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

In one of the Christmas epistles I received during the holiday season, I was reminded that there now is Bethlehem Star TV as Trinity Broadcasting Network has a station in Bethlehem. The antenna is atop the Church of the Nativity. Isn't this exciting to know this is happening in this century? This network reaches all over Israel and even into Saudi Arabia, and in the future, will reach out to the world. When you read this warm thoughts column, it will be either the 12th or 13th day of Christmas. On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...because of that lively carol, we all know that there are 12 Days of Christmas. January 6th, the 12th day, is associated with the celebration of Epiphany. Epiphany means "manifestation," and celebrates the occasion when the wise men came from the east and presented their gifts. In some countries and cultures, January 6th is when the gifts are unwrapped. In Spain, everyone knows about the epiphany for the 12 Days of Christmas. Leading up to it, and on the day itself, street possessions take place, with the three kings in traditional dress being led to the local church or town square. Then and only then, are gifts exchanged. The children have to wait until January 6th to unwrap their presents. Sometimes we may think that our way of celebrating Christmas is the same all over the world. Our way has become increasingly secular, as evidenced by the street decorations in our cities. Father Christmases, colored lights, and fir trees abound from autumn onwards. Yet one has to search to find any reference to the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesu,s sent to us to be our Emmanuel, our Savior, saving us from self destruction, and to show us how God would have us live. The 12 Days of Christmas, beginning with the wonderful event of the birth of the Christ child, and ending with the epiphany have more to teach us about the reality of life and living. We are reminded that Jesus was born in a stable as there was no room elsewhere. We are also reminded that Jesus was a refugee with his parents fleeing to escape the murder of the innocents ordered by that insecure ruler, Herod, Jesus came with the promise of liberation, but that Liberty does not mean we have a license to do as we please. Love must make rules for us in order to be free to serve just as a room has to have walls, so liberty must have boundaries. When my seven year old granddaughter dictated to me the Merry Christmas story. She reminded me, "Grandma, we cannot forget the three wise men." Yes, the wise men of the Epiphany remind us that wise men and wise women still seek Him. For Jesus is the reason of this season and Epiphany.More Warm Thoughts: When it is dark enough, men see stars. - Ralph Waldo Emerson. Happy epiphany season! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record January 7th, 1999.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As I write these lines on Veterans Day, a time of remembrance, many warm thoughts come to mind. I can also remember past Veterans Day when we experience a blizzard, as we had yesterday. On this Veterans Day, I would like to share these prayerful thoughts with the readers of this Warm Thoughts column as together, we pay tribute to all those who served their beloved country. Thanks from the Heart. "They served and fought and died so that we might be safe and free. Grant them, O Lord, eternal peace and give them the victory. And in these days of unrest filled with grave uncertainty, let's not forget the price they paid to keep our country free. And so on this year's Veterans Day, we offer up a prayer - May the people of all nations be united in thy care. And grant us understanding and teach us how to live, so that we may lose our selfish pride and learn to love and give. And keep us ever mindful of the fighting men who sleep in Arlington and foreign lands, so we may ever keep the light of freedom burning in their honor through the years and hear their cry for peace on earth resounding in our ears. Forgive us our transgressions and O God, be with us yet, lest, in our pride and arrogance we heedlessly forget. From "Someone who cares." Those of us who've never served can't truly understand the sacrifice that you made protecting life and land. You were called from homes and jobs you never turn around. You did more than was asked of you in air, on sea, on ground. You gave for us in freedom's name. Till now, the time has come for us to give you in return a thank you, everyone. Yes, thank you from the heart. Let freedom ring! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, November 19th 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

November. Can it really be November already? It seems, the year has its last flare of youth in October. In November, the earth folds its hands, hands that have been trained in the lesson of content and waits for that garment of snow. We have had some very beautiful autumn days this year...days for travel. No, I did not travel to Florida for that historic launch into space, but I did manage the trip to Nebraska, and while there, attended a 50th wedding anniversary of dear friends who live in Seward Nebraska, that Fourth of July City. It was so special to be able to share at that "Golden Celebration" a poem I wrote, and so I will share the poem with the readers of this Warm Thoughts column. "50 Years of Happiness. it may seem to you like yesterday, yet 50 Years have passed away. Since at the altar, you stood side by side a very young groom with his happy bride. And now your children's children stand, close gather round an eager band. You may recall with smiles and tears the joys and griefs of those 50 years. For you have known the cares of life, sweethearts you were as man and wife. Yet you have not loved each other less through those 50 Years of happiness. And now, as you are turning gray, you will trust in God, your guide and stay. He is your constant and unchanging friend, He'll lead you both to your journey's end."At a time when the average marriage is lasting seven years, it is certainly commendable that there are still some marriages who can celebrate that golden anniversary. Cheers to Les and Dorothy! More Warm Thoughts: Grow old with me. The best is yet to be! Browning. The glory of green grasses fades away like shadows in the quiet autumn night, the golden leaves descend like birds in flight and in them, squirrels, like children, run and play. May you have many warm thoughts these autumn days!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, November 5th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The holidays are approaching so fast. Already, I am receiving those holiday letters, as I have a few friends who write their holiday letter about family in October. It seems that many people in this high-tech age no longer write those personal letters. Donald G Mitchell once wrote, "Blessed be letters. They are monitors. They are also the comforters, and they are the only heart talkers. A letter is the warmest way to bid a friend the time of day. A keep in touch that brings the smiles across the very longest miles. And what a world of strength and hope is tucked inside an envelope, reminding loved ones that you are at least in heart and not very far in no country, state or camp, the wealth beneath a postage stamp. For memories that never age are written down upon each page, and though it's nice to telephone, one of the sweetest pleasures known are moments shared in thoughts we send that can be read and read again." An unknown author wrote the following thoughts, "The Letter You Did Not write. I meant to write, I really did. Each morn I'd say, 'Today, I'll get the pen and paper out and send that note away.' So many tasks, my day was full. The months flew swiftly by. Tomorrow I must write for sure. Each night fall, I would sigh. The sad thing is, I really cared. He meant so much to me. He was the dearest friend. I knew how close he'd grown to be, but then the years came crowding in. Somehow we drew part. Yet I so often thought of him and kept him in my heart. But now I cannot write to him. He's gone. He'll never know how much he's missed."If you have friends, please write and tell them so. To old friends everywhere, if you will, just sit down and write and tell them that you care. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, October 29th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Recently, my friend celebrated her 91st birthday. She has had a very full life, but is experiencing life changes. One must part with things and make the necessary changes in life and living. We call it downsizing, when one moves from your home to an apartment and then to a room in a residential setting. In last week's column, I promised that I would share some thoughts about the nifty 90s. I must do this before these nifty 90s leave us for the next century. I wrote these thoughts in the 70s. Remember that bicentennial year, the poem has been published in the 1995 National Poetry anthology entitled, "Tomorrow Never Knows the Nifty 90s." "I can see myself in the nifty 90s, a shriveled and sprightly little old great grandma riding a motorcycle, speeding it up for the year 2000. I can see myself sailing on the seas on queen ships, flying on 921, jets through the skies, discussing politics and philosophy with my collegiate clan, recycling fableaux for the 21st Century. I can see myself still rocking little babies, running again to the hospital, carrying a baby buggy vase with fragrant blue forget me nots for another great grandchild."Warm, Aging Thoughts: "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 80 or 20. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." Henry Ford. "I shall grow old, but never lose life's zest, because the road's last turn will be the best. As you pass through the years, you will find much calmness in your heart. It is the gift of age, and the colors of fall will be deep and rich if you let it happen. Chief Dan George. Celebrate life on these beautiful autumn days! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, October 22nd, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Recently, a few of my friends celebrated their 80th birthday anniversaries. It was a very special occasion where family and friends came for an Open House to celebrate life together. It is quite interesting that when I taught Gerontology classes that I called the 80s, "The Lively 80s." An essay entitled "Life Begins at 80," supports those warm thoughts. "Life begins at 80. I have good news for you. The first 80 years are the hardest. The second 80 are a succession of birthday parties. Once you reach 80, everyone wants to carry your baggage and help you up the steps. If you forget your name or anybody else's name or an appointment or your own telephone number, or promise to be three places at the same time, or can't remember how many grandchildren you have, you need only explain that you are 80. Being 80 is a lot better than being 70. At 70, people are mad at you for everything. At 80, you have a perfect excuse, no matter what you do. If you act foolishly, it's your second childhood. Everybody is looking for symptoms of softening of the brain. Being 70 is no fun at all. At that age, they expect you to retire to a house in Florida and complain about your arthritis, and you ask everybody to stop mumbling because you can't understand them. Actually, your hearing is about 50% gone if you survive until you are 80. Everybody is surprised that you are still alive. They treat you with respect just for having lived so long. Actually, they seem surprised that you can walk and talk sensible. So please, folks, try to make it to 80. It's the best time of life. People forgive you for anything if you ask me, life begins at 80." This essay was written by Frank Laubach.And so the birthday parties go on and on to the age of the nifty 90s. In recent weeks and in my travels, I have met many golden ages in the nifty 90s. I have met many golden ages in the nifty 90s who appear to be in the sparkling 70s. Next column will tell you a bit about those nifty 90s. Let's celebrate life every day of our lives! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, October 15th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

A recent article I read states that the United Nations General Assembly has designated 1999 as the "International Year of Older Persons." The theme will be "towards a society of all ages." This theme was chosen to promote the philosophy that societies should be inclusive in nature, should embrace all population groups, and share their resources equally. October 1st, 1998 will be the day that the UN launches its year long celebration, which is also the International Day of Older Persons, having its beginning in 1990. The United States Planning Committee for this unique year recognizes aging as multi-dimensional and spanning every individual's lifelong development. The importance and contribution of older persons to intergenerational richness, the heterogeneity of the older population, and it is concerned about the continuing poverty of many older persons and the necessity to provide adequate health care in the later years. The committee seeks to create opportunities for all of our citizens to understand, appreciate, and celebrate the contributions to nation, community, and family of older persons as citizens, caregivers, volunteers and workers. The committee is working to focus attention on the challenge to our nation to ensure that the increases in life expectancy are matched by the increased opportunities for older persons to find fulfillment to these years. It also recognizes education as an enterprise that is lifelong and takes place in many different settings. It is the mission of this committee to encourage thoughtful planning to intergenerational projects, seminars, discussion groups, and ethnic and cultural heritage programs in educational systems, corporations, religious organizations, and the public and private sector. So dear readers of this warm thoughts column, be looking for special events in our community and be an active participant in this year's honoring many of you!Grandma and Grandpa: I like to walk with grandma and grandpa. Their steps are short like mine. They don't say, "Now, hurry up," they always take their time. I like to walk with grandma and grandpa. Their eyes see things mine. Pebbles bright, a funny cloud, and hidden drops of dew. Most people have to hurry, they do not stop and see. I'm glad God made grandma and grandpa unrushed and young like me. Author Unknown. Celebrate towards a society of all ages all year! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, October 8th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The doors to the school of learning are now open throughout the country and homework assignments seem to fill our schedules. In my many files of thoughts, I found pearls of wisdom for students taken from creating a positive learning environment by Marly Ann Dahl. These pearls of wisdom can be shared for all lifelong learners. "Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd rather have been talking. The person risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. There are plenty of opportunities for attaining success, but none of them work unless you do. It's impossible to fail totally if you dare to try, better to do something imperfectly than do nothing flawlessly. The one battle most people lose is the battle over the fear of failure. Try start, begin, and you'll be assured you won the first round. The surest way not to fail is to be determined to succeed. One of the heaviest loads to carry in life may be a bundle of bad work habits. Never let a problem become an excuse. If it's going to be, it's up to me. The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in five words - I did not have time. Thinking is like loving and dying. Each of us must do it for ourselves. Experience is the name everyone gives to his mistakes. To learn, you must first want to be taught. Opportunity won't often knock for the fellow who doesn't give a rap. You are the sum total of all your thoughts. When people get stressed, they get rigid and do not change. Two reasons children and adults misbehave - they're bored and/or frustrated. If you can touch them, you can tolerate them. Distance promotes stereotypes, rigid behavior, and intolerance. The brain doesn't work when the heart is breaking. Happiness is always associated with an experience. Change is slow. A person will only change on their own day and in their own way. It is better to blow bubbles than to foam at the mouth. It is easier to change behavior than it is to change attitudes. It is easier to build a child than to repair an adult. People can fail many times, but they aren't a failure until they give up on themselves or blame someone else."Do you have more pearls of wisdom to share? Thanks for sharing. May you have many warm thoughts on many warm autumn days!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, September 24th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Surprise! The Warm Thoughts column two weeks ago, on, "I've Learned," was favorably received by readers. It also brought me a four page email letter on more "I've learned." So here's a sequel to the first column: "I've learned that you can get by on charm for about 15 minutes, after that, you'd better know something. I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but the best you can do. I've learned that it's not what happens to us that's important. It's what we do about it. I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I've learned that it may be easier to react than to plan ahead, but it's much less effective. I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't. I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you. I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, passion fades and there had better be something stronger to take its place. I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice. I've learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it. I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score. I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up. I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they are going to hurt you once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others, sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. I've learned that background and circumstances may have influenced who we are or who we become. I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of seconds by people who don't even know you. I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help. I've learned that the paradigm we live in is not all that is offered to us. And again, I've learned that I still have a lot to learn, and need to just keep on keeping on learning." Make every day a celebration of life and learning!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record September 17th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

September brings us Grandparents Day. Recently, I read some thoughts from, "Grandparents with Love and Logic," by Foster W Klein and Jim Fay. These thoughts are worth sharing about grandparenting in today's world. "Today, grandparents tend to move toward the 21st Century with images of grandparents past: silver haired, slow talking, slow moving people biding their time in wooden rocking chairs on the front porch, contemplating the sunset through wire rimmed spectacles. They smile crinkly smiles and take out their teeth at night. Grandmothers crochet booties and make cookies while grandfathers whittle wooden treasures with jack knives. Their grandchildren walk over from across town, sit on the porch with them, admire the carving and munch on the cookies." Each of us carries variations of their picture created in our own childhood. As we set zoom feature on our cameras to grandparenting present, we realize with shock how much the picture has changed. We travel around the world instead of crochet, or play golf instead of whittle. Some become grandparents long before they are ready for rocking chairs. Many of the grandchildren live half a continent away or wear strange, baggy clothes and radical color combinations and pierce their ears. 94% of older adults with children in the US have grandchildren. Half of these are great grandparents. Of the 54 million grandparents in the US, 26% are younger than age 55 only 38% are in their retirement years, over 65. The average grandparents has three or four grandchildren. Grandparents are living longer. From 1940 to 1980 the life expectation for a 40 year old woman increased by seven years, and the life expectancy of a 40 year old man by four years. What do these numbers mean? Grandparents are more important than ever. More adults than ever are living long enough to get to know their grandchildren and for their grandchildren to get to know them. The increase in longevity is giving their relationships the potential to become stronger and longer lasting. Children close to at least one grandparent are more emotionally secure than those without such a tie. Grandparents can provide this emotional security by listening, truly, listening to their grandchildren, refusing to compete in the acquisition of material possessions, giving their most valuable gift: time. More heart to heart thoughts: Parents need to understand that the grandparent's role is sacred to the child, and they should do whatever they can to enhance that relationship. Kornhaber. Grandparents can do more for us than anyone else in the world. They sprinkle stardust in our eyes. Alex Haley. Happy Grandparents Day!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record September 10th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

It is always a joy to receive warm thoughts from readers. These special gifts can then be shared with the reading audience of this column. The column a reader once gave me entitled, "Count Your Blessings," received many comments, so it was very special this week to receive these additional thoughts on counting blessings from a special friend: "Count your garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall. Count your days by golden hours. Don't remember clouds at all. Count your nights by stars, not shadows. Count your years with smiles, not tears. Count your blessings not your troubles. Count your age by friends, not years."Abraham Lincoln once said, "My friends are my best treasure, the best part of life." I recently heard someone say, "You are more than a friend. You are a blessing." "Friends are like flowers in the garden of life. A friend is like a sunbeam that can always warm your day and bring you endless treasures as you travel on life's way." William Ellery Channing once stated, "True friends have no solitary joy or sorrow." In my collection of thoughts on friends and friendship, I found this thought by John Addison, "Friendship improves happiness and abates misery by doubling our joy and dividing our grief." Coleridge describes friendship as "a sheltering tree." Friendship and friends are truly gifts. The Gift of Friendship. Friendship is a priceless gift that cannot be bought or sold, but its value is far greater than a mountain made of gold. For gold is cold and lifeless. It can neither see nor hear, and in the time of trouble, it is powerless to cheer. It has no ears to listen, no heart to understand. It cannot bring you comfort or reach out a helping hand. So when you ask God for a gift, be thankful if he sends...not diamonds, pearls or riches, but the love of real, true friends." Thanks for being a friend!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record July 30, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Recently, I read an article about how our attitude depends on what we eat and when we eat, as it has major impact on our performance and moods. We have heard often, "you are what you eat," according to Dr. Jack Grapple, a well known nutrition and fitness expert, he tells us how to have a better attitude. He states that we need to remember what your mother said about breakfast. Don't skip it. Grapple says no ifs, ands, and buts... eat breakfast. Breakfast is most important. He tells us why it is so important. "After a good night's sleep, your body is nearly devoid of glucose or blood sugar you need to replenish when you eat a proper breakfast, your cognitive abilities, your energy and your attitude are better. Cereals and grains are good, and even a little fat is okay." He tells us that eating for attitude and energy is a day long project. The rule, according to Grapple, is simple: eat four or five small meals, not three big meals - a hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner is old thinking. To keep your metabolism up, your blood sugar from dropping and yourself energized, you need to eat a small breakfast, a healthy mid morning snack, a small dinner and a healthy snack. He even suggests certain foods for certain times of the day. For energy in the afternoon, for example, many people opt for a light lunch, like a salad. This is one of the worst things you can do, because when you eat carbohydrates, your body releases an amino acid called tritopan. "That amino acid," he says, "triggers a hormone that has a relaxing effect, not good if you have a busy afternoon planned, select a chicken sandwich on rye bread and skip the mayonnaise." He says the protein causes the release of amino acid tyrosine, another big word with the simple meaning energy. And what about that late night snack? Carbohydrates make you feel calm if you have to eat late eat carbohydrates, he concludesl. Did you expect another Warm Thoughts column on attitudes? Thanks to Dr Jack grapple, a very well known nutrition and fitness expert, on the subject. I'd love to discuss this a little more with him. Yes, you guessed it, just over a cup of tea. Warm thoughts: The remarkable thing is, we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day. We cannot change the past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and this is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes. Charles Swindoll.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Teawritten by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record July 23rd, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Recently, I attended a Quilt Fest at the Pioneer Hall in Freeman, South Dakota. There were 155 quilts displayed, and the featured quilter was a 94-year-old resident of the Salem home. Throughout her life, she has been involved in the making of hundreds of quilts, and love has turned the patterns into works of art. As I stood there by the Christmas quilt, the wedding ring quilt, and many others, there were many warm thoughts that flashed through my mind. In the many quilts I have given away in my lifetime, I have included this poem entitled "Warm Thoughts.""Love is a quilt. A quilt is love, both love and quilt should be soft enough to comfort you, bright enough to cheer you, generous enough to enfold you, light enough to let you move freely, strong enough to withstand adversity, durable enough to last a lifetime and given gladly from the heart." Perhaps we can even say that God's love is a quilt - bright enough to cheer you and generous enough to enfold you and comfort you. An unknown author has written these thoughts on "Another Comforter." "Overnight visits to Grandma's house were a whole new world. Grandma turning the crank on the butter churn, kneading yeasty homemade bread, ironing on the board placed between two chairs with a flat iron heated on the old wooden stove. Then bedtime came with the long truck up the stairs, strange noises, dark shadows. But grandma would always say, there's an extra comforter on the foot of the bed. What a haven. Just pull that comforter up over my head, and strange noises were shut out. Lurking shadows disappeared. No bright flashes of lightning could be seen, no cold chill could penetrate its warmth. But most of all, every hand stitched piece of that comforter radiated grandma's love and care. And grandma reminds me of God, not only did he send his son for our redemption, He went one step beyond and sent another comforter, a haven for every need, shelter, for every storm, light for our darkest days, healer of our deepest sorrows, and the warmth of his very own love.” A Quilters Song, "Oh, give me a scrap bag filled to the brim with bright bits and pieces. So according to when I might make a rainbow or some butterfly wings, a mountain, a sunset and number of things, I thank you, dear Lord, and make quilts be your praise for the stitches and patches that brighten my days." Barbara Kraun. More Warm Thoughts: Oh Lord, make the scraps of my life something useful. Stitch into my life your own design and use me as you will. May you have many warm thoughts in the good ol summertime! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record on July 22nd, 1999Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

It was "Christmas in June" at the little home on the prairie. Family drove from various areas of America to celebrate together, a few weeks ago. The temperature was in the 70s. Instead of snowflakes, an occasional mosquito buzzed by and a few June bugs. No snow fell, but rain dashed on the tent where children played and slept nearby. Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, did not even arrive in a boat or a sleigh. However, everyone enjoyed the festive Christmas foods and picnic style, since family is widely scattered and work schedules prevent getting together on December 25. We gather together during good old summertime.Family traditions and celebrations for holidays and every day are very important. It is a reminder of the good old days when extended families lived in close proximity and traditions were passed from generation to generation. Family means a sense of belonging and people you can count on to share their time and values and care about strengthening family ties. Yes, it was Christmas in June and not Christmas in July, as it had been in former years. Yet, there were the fireworks, the creative activities, the decorations and snow boots, the mama cat and her kittens, including little snowflake, were the joy of the grandchildren at play. The lighted Christmas tree at the top of the stairs has gifts under its branches all year long. What fun to open the surprise gifts and negotiate with one another. Laughter filled the Christmas tea room. There is always that solemn moment when we know there will be goodbyes in the morning, when family returns to their homes. We closed with singing Silent Night in harmony while Auntie Ruth gracefully used her hands as we tried to read the words in the sign language. And oh yes, Trina, we did not forget the wise men and the star as its light shone so bright in the dark night that lighted star reminded us all that wise men and women still seek Him. The reason for all seasons. "A house built with love becomes home. A house is built by human hands, a house is made of bricks, a home is built by human hearts. A home is made of love. Having some place to go is home. Having someone to love is family. Having both is a blessing. Happy is a home that is filled with love." Celebrate family all year long! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record July 9th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As played by WV fiddler Ellis Hall, here's a three-part tune that's been played all around by many well-known players. I'd like to hear James Bryan, but can't find his version. However, his partner, Carl Jones, plays it prettily on guitar and you can hear it on a link in this week's Tune of the Week.

As played by WV fiddler Ellis Hall, here's a three-part tune that's been played all around by many well-known players. I'd like to hear James Bryan, but can't find his version. However, his partner, Carl Jones, plays it prettily on guitar and you can hear it on a link in this week's Tune of the Week.

The month of July is a very special month. July has many reasons to celebrate! Though not widely known, it was on July 2nd, not July 4th, that the Continental Congress passed the resolution declaring the independence from the colonies. We celebrate Independence Day on July 4. Are you a celebrator? Having lived several years in the Fourth of July city, Seward Nebraska, Independence Day has very special memories for me. Singing the Star Spangled Banner has inspired millions and moved many to tears. It has symbolized with the flag what it really does mean to be a loyal American. Are you aware that it was here in the state of South Dakota that the Star Spangled Banner received the first impetus, which eventually led to its adoption as our national anthem? I was very impressed when I first learned about the history of this stirring song. It all happened in 1892 when Colonel Calb H Carlton assumed command of the Eighth US Calvary Regiment at Fort Meade near Sturgis. Carlton writes in his memoirs that he and his wife discussed the fact that the United States had no official song. Mrs. Carlton suggested they do something about it. It was at Fort Meade that Colonel Carlton ordered his Calvary band to play the Star Spangled Banner at all parades and formations. He further states that all persons, including civilians, should rise respectfully, and all men not under arms would remove their hats. Colonel Carlton promoted the idea beyond his own South Dakota base, and consequently, the practice was adopted by other commanders. There was something patriotically contagious about the show of respect for the song and the flag it honored. It was a one sentence bill that passed on March 3, 1931 and signed by President Hoover that designated the Star Spangled Banner as the National Anthem of the United States of America. The patriotic custom began in the Black Hills, and so it gives our national anthem its roots in South Dakota. Patriotic Thoughts: Francis Scott Key, a lawyer, wrote the lyrics for our national anthem during the morning of September 14th, 1814, at the dawn's early light. He saw the American flag fly, and in a burst of patriotic fervor, He hurriedly penned the immortal words. We thank the father of our national anthem with renewed patriotism, let's celebrate Independence Day. Happy Independence Day!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, June 25th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The first day of summer - good, old summertime is very near. Next Sunday is not only the first day of summer, but it is also Father's Day. In our own special way, we honor our fathers on this day. We have our very special memories. Many memories touched my heart as I read about the "Old Fashioned Daddy." Daddy was from the Old School. "Daddy was from the old school. He learned his lessons well. He passed them on to me. I'm not ashamed to tell. Daddy was from the old school. He worked hard every day. He didn't want a hand out. With dignity, he earned his pay. Daddy was from the old school, a mixture of the right stuff. He knew how to be tender and he knew how to be tough. Daddy was from the old school. Big boys weren't supposed to cry. Sometimes he would slip...I'd see tears in his eyes. Daddy was from the old school. He never took the last piece of cake. He would always nod at me. I knew it was mine to take. Daddy was from the old school. His clothes lasted a long time. He bought me the latest, sometimes spending his last dime. Daddy was from the old school. He loved the American way. He believed in freedom and guarded it every day. Daddy was from the old school. I didn't understand it back then, but now I fully see he was teaching me how to win. Daddy was from the old school. I guess I am too, daddy. Thank you for the lessons I owe so much to you."These may be tears in your eyes as you, too, read about the "Daddy from the Old School." "It takes a man to cry," is a thought not often expressed. Children are truly blessed by the wise actions of their fathers. Blessed be fathers who honor their responsibilities in guiding their families. A salute to fathers on Father's Day. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, June 18th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When you read this column, it will be only a few days before Flag Day. I have often wondered if "Old Glory" could tell her story, just what she might tell us. Recently, I read some warm thoughts, which I'd like to share with you, my dear readers of this column. "Some people call me 'Old Glory.' Others refer to me as the 'Star Spangled Banner,' or the 'Stars and stripes.' But whatever they call me, I am your flag. I remember some time ago, people lined up on both sides of the street to watch a parade, and naturally, I was leading every parade proudly waving in the breeze. What happened? I am still the same old flag, but now I don't feel as proud as I used to be when I come down your street. You just stand there with your hands in your pockets. Then I see the children running around and shouting, is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have people forgotten what I stand for and where I've been?" Our flag was first raised on June 14, 1777 and oh, it is more than a piece of cloth. Having a design of stars and stripes, it symbolizes the greatest nation on earth. It has been the refuge of millions of oppressed people from everywhere. It has stood for freedom from want and fear. The red stripes symbolize hardiness and courage - the hardiness of the early pioneers, the courage of the common working man. The white stripes signify purity and innocence - the purity of the idealists who believe that each person is a child of God, and the innocence that strives for his right to be here. The blue field is indicative of vigilance, perseverance and justice - the vigilance to protect man's freedoms, and perseverance that rejects all defeat, and justice the goal of free men everywhere. The stars unified on the field of blue embrace the fifty states as one unified for the good of mankind and country. Honor her, respect her, defend her, never let her enemies from without or within tear her down in shameful defeat, lest she never rise again. Place God first and others second, then our nation will remain the bulwark of peace, freedom and equal opportunity for all mankind. This is your flag. Let your heart salute her.Warm and Winsome Thoughts: Dear friends, let us protect and respect our flag, a symbol that is so important, significant, and meaningful to those of us who love and honor and revere our country. Respect and protect our "Old Glory." WarmThoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record June 11th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

To some, Memorial Day means a day off from work, a three day weekend, opening day for the local pool, or the official start of the summer season. But for others, Memorial Day is a time to remember the dead, especially those who perished in America's wars. Memorial Day is said to have started in Waterloo, New York, when on May 5th, 1866 residents held a commemorative program and decorated the graves of those who died in the Civil War over time and as the United States fought more wars, Memorial Day, or "Decoration Day," as it is called in some areas, added the remembrance of those soldiers who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. Memorial Day is also a day of prayer for peace, as well as a patriotic day in which Americans display the flag. Memorial Day has also become a day to honor one's ancestors and family members who have died. Many Americans visit the graves of their loved ones and leave flowers on this day. For a time, beginning in 1948, Memorial Day was observed on May 30th, issued by a presidential proclamation beginning in 1948. Since 1971, however, it has been officially designated the last Monday in May. This year, it falls on May 25th. Recently, I read a poem written for Memorial Day by an unknown author, entitled, "I'm Free." "Don't grieve for me, for now, I'm free. I'm following the path God laid for me. I took His hand when I heard Him call. I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day - to laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone, must stay at that way. I found peace at the close of day. If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembering joy. A friendship, shared a laugh, a kiss, ah, yes, these things too, I will miss. Be not burdened with time of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I've savored much. Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me. God wanted me now, He set me free." Patriotic thought from an unknown source, commonly used during the Vietnam era: "You haven't lived until you've almost died for those who have fought for it, freedom has a favor that the protected will never know." May you have many Memorial Day memories!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, May 28th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

During the month of May, many states host an annual event on the governor's conference on "Aging." At these conferences, older Americans may learn new ways for healthy living and lifelong learning. Some time ago, my friend Mary shared an article entitled, "Nostalgia," which I feel may be interesting to our readers as they review the changes of the century. "Over the last 50 to 60 years, we have been witnesses to many changes in our lives...Here are just a few of them: We were born before cordless phones, fax machines and ice makers. Who ever heard of organ transplants or root canals? Horsepower was something to do with a horse. Callers rang the doorbell instead of blowing their horn. The fallout problem was something kept under your hat, and when folks sat down to dinner, they counted their blessings instead of calories. Guided missiles were rolling pins and frying pans. A babysitter was called a mother. A child had more brothers and sisters than fathers, and a car didn't wear out before it was paid for. A housewife canned food instead of taking it out of cans. Being a parent required more patience than money. Baths were taken once a week, and religion every day, and the only red menace was long winter underwear. $5 worth of groceries filled two bags, and when we were in school, the hard stuff meant algebra. We did without disposable diapers, velcro and scotch tape. Instead of the internet and the information superhighway, we had the party line. In our day, television was truly a luxury, and a black and white luxury at that. Tape meant to reel to reel, not cassettes or videos... and CDs were certificates of deposits, not compact discs, and owning a "hi-fi" was all the rage, and who could forget driving a Packard or a Nash? The only millionaires in baseball were the owners. Bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. Cars in our time met running boards, cranks, Model A Roadsters and rumble seats. A mouse was a furry little creature, not part of a computer, and the only babes politicians kissed were those in their mother's arms. We were before Hawaii and Alaska became states, Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, Snoopy, DDT, interstate highways, Holiday Inns, air conditioned cars and decaffeinated anything. We came from a time when we left our front door open. College kids swallowed goldfish, not alcohol, and in our day, songs had a tune and the words made sense. "Hippie" meant big in the hips. A trip meant travel. Bread came from bakeries, not the min. We were before microwave popcorn, child proof medicine bottles, and cars with cruise control. Streaking was what happened when you washed windows. Holidays were for getting together, not for getting away. And remember when a chick was a chicken, not the girl down the street? Tennis shoes were only worn in PE class. Bathing suits would cover your knees. And when you said, "I don't have anything to do," your parents said, "Find something to do!" In our day, we would swing and sway with Sammy K, waltz with Wayne King, dance to Guy Lombardo, and polka with Leo Greco. We have survived all of these changes and many more. What an exciting time to have lived." Warm Thought: Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80, anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. Henry Ford. May you have many warm thoughts! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner. Published in the Marion Record May 21st, 1998. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As I write this column, on the day of National Day of Prayer, many warm thoughts come to mind. Throughout the country, many students will be graduating from schools of learning this month. Graduation is both a happy and a sad occasion. The diploma a symbol of excellence in knowledge, is the inheritance of our youth. I am reminded of what a big, gray haired, soft spoken Professor Greek once stated as he handed out the diplomas. He said, "Young ladies and gentlemen, it is not possible for everyone to have a great intellect, but it is possible for everyone to have a great heart." Over a quarter of a century ago, I read an essay written by an unknown author entitled, "Two Easy Questions," which I feel I would like to share with you, my dear readers of this warm thoughts column: "It was graduation day, and as a teacher, I sat before the speaker's lectern. "Here we go again," I amused, "another boring, unimaginative, uninteresting speech." But how very wrong I was. The speaker merely said that he had two easy questions that he hoped each graduate could answer for himself in the affirmative. If any student had to give a negative answer to one or both questions, he stressed, then that person was in deep trouble. He asked the graduates, "Do you have the ability to love? Do you have the capacity to receive love?" I was moved. So was the entire audience. He went on, "There is an identification crisis in America. People don't know who they are or where they are going. They have no purpose. They are frustrated, and hate swells within them. If we don't love ourselves, how can we possibly love someone else? Hate blunts and stunts sensitivities and sensibilities. People attempt to erase this frustration and hate by eating too much, drinking too much and smoking too much. It takes people to help people become people. If we give love, we will receive love, but to love, we must love our bodies and chasten our emotions. We must not gallop and gulp, rather, we must pause to savor and sip. We all know that love is not physical, but our spiritual and mental and emotional complexities are so entwined with the physical that we must fight hard to make ourselves physically disposed to love. Love the bodies and chasten the emotions. In a world full of lonely persons, isn't it a tragedy for anyone to be lonely, alone?" Some time has passed since that commencement speaker, bless him, hurled those two questions at his audience...but they continue to echo and re-echo in my mind. He did, however, give us a clue, a rule to live by: we must find love ourselves. Very well, I'll begin there. I'll love myself. I'll educate myself, discipline myself, and think noble thoughts. What's more, I'll even try to make myself more lovable. It is possible for everyone to have a big heart. May the inspiration of wisdom and hope for the future be with our graduates in their journey through life. Congratulations to the graduates!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record May 14th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be just a couple of days before Mother's Day. Many families will be together on this special family day honoring their mother. Recently, I read an essay, a letter a mother wrote to her daughter. It touched my heart, and no doubt will be taped on a kitchen cabinet or refrigerator, and so I share it with my readers.Dear daughter, Although you are only four-years-old and will not understand what I am saying, I feel the need to write this letter and put it away for you to read many years from now. When you were an infant and the newness of being a mother wore off, I couldn't wait until you grew up. At first, I found myself wishing, "if only she would start walking," and then, "if only she would start talking." One day, I suddenly realized that you were out of diapers. You were indeed walking and talking, and pretty soon you would be going off to school. I remember the morning your father and I brought your baby sister home from the hospital. You and I had been apart six days. When the door opened, I saw you standing there with your angel smile. You seemed so big compared to the baby I was holding in my arms, it was hard to imagine you were once that small. I suddenly realized how much of your babyhood I have wished away. Being a mother is demanding. It robs you of so many freedoms, and I resented the fact that I had so many added responsibilities. And then I looked down at your soft curls and your trusting eyes suddenly, I felt ashamed. My heart almost broke. I cannot relive those first four years, but I have been trying to make them up to you and to myself. I hope and pray that when your first child is born, you will be wiser and more mature than I was. I hope you will enjoy every phase of your child's growing up and not wish they would hurry and pass so you could be free of the burdens of motherhood. You and I will have our share of heated words and angry battles in the years to come. There will be days when we will find it impossible to please each other. I will secretly wish that you would hurry and graduate from high school so I could send you off to college and be rid of you. Life rushes by all too quickly, my darling daughter, especially the lovely days and the beautiful times. Be smarter than your mother was. Don't let a single moment slip away unsavored or unappreciated, these days are priceless, and afford you the greatest opportunities for fulfillment. Never again will your heart be so full. All my love, MotherWarm Thought: Cherish each moment with your children and your grandchildren. Happy Mother's Day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record May 7th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As I write these lines, my thoughts are still centered on a hill outside Jerusalem. It is so overwhelming to realize God's love in our lives. Reflecting on Easter memories shared with family and friends, one finds in life meaning, purpose, hope, and love. Easter is the greatest celebration of the year, and should be celebrated every day. It is a joyous celebration of victory. The whole world becomes more beautiful at Easter time. For Easter ushers in spring, when all nature seemed as dead, there suddenly is life from brown branches and small twigs and stems tender green leaves come forth. The whole world is a veritable garden making a beautiful Easter offering. Have you ever wondered why the beautiful Lily is called the Easter Lily? The lily has been used to decorate churches on Easter ever since Civil War times. The desire of churches to bring consolation to those who lost loved ones in war made it natural to choose Easter, which is the promise of the victory of life over death, as the occasion for special services. The lily, because it is symbolic of purity and new life, was so widely used that it became known as the Easter Lily. April showers bring May flowers. The song tells us the showers will bring many blessings among them, the flower gardens of spring. Warm Thoughts: God never sends the winter without the joy of spring. God Almighty first planted a garden, and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. Francis Bacon, "And of Gardens." This wish for Easter blessings is especially for you. So it's to be expected, warm thoughts go with it. May you have many Easter blessings!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record April 3rd, 1997.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As families throughout the world look forward to celebrating the Easter season, I'm overwhelmed with many warm thoughts and memories. Memories of the place where all the events of Holy Week took place are so real and meaningful to me. Many times I relived that experience of walking the Via Dolorosa, "the way of sorrows" when I was there on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We all are pilgrims. And an unknown author wrote the following prayerful thoughts: A Pilgrims Prayer. "Lord Jesus Christ, you were once a pilgrim in the Holy Land. We too have come as pilgrims to journey with you into the desert to listen to the powerful word of the God of Israel spoken in our own deserts. We follow you into Galilee to understand and experience your ministry of presence and healing. We come up to Jerusalem to join the great crowd that came to meet you crying Hosanna. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We walk with you on the road to Golgotha and share in your passion seeing you nailed to the cross. We bow down before your suffering and dying. We journey with you on the road to Emmaus and discover you in the breaking and sharing of the word and the bread. Show us the glory of your resurrection. Open our eyes, our hearts and our minds, so that we may find you not only in ancient stones, but in the midst of your holy people and among all those who thirst for you wherever they may be. Write your gospel upon our hearts, send us forth, carrying the good news, continue to lead us and guide us on our pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem."More Thoughts to Ponder: A Simple Path by Mother Teresa. "The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace." May you have a joyful Easter season! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record April 2nd, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When many of you read this column, it will be National Day of Prayer, and large and small groups throughout our nation will be praying for the future of our world. In America, these groups are found in homes, churches, offices, factories, schools and in state and national capitals. These groups believe that positive prayer is power, and that behind all leaders of church and state, there must be prayer. Many years ago, I read some thoughts from Dr. Frank Laubach's illuminating book, "Prayer: the Mightiest Force in the World." He states, "We do not persuade God to try harder when we pray, it is our world leaders, our statesmen and churchmen, whom we persuade to try harder. When great numbers of us pray for leaders, a mightily, visible, spiritual force lifts its minds and eyes towards God. If they listen to our suggestions, we would probably be more or less wrong. But what God tells them when they listen to him, it is infinitely better for world leaders to listen to God than for them to listen to us." Most of us can never enter the White House and offer advice to the President. Probably, he will never have time to read our letters. but we can give him what is far more important than advice we can give him a life into the presence of God. Make him hungry for divine wisdom, which is the grandest thing one man ever does for one Father. Everyone who prays can be a builder of the future. Prayer Thoughts: "Prayer can change lives and it can change nations. A rich harvest is fulfilled by the seeds of prayer. Through prayer, we become richer in our hearts and warmer in our love." J. Carrie Sexton. "Prayer is the bridge that we throw across the space between our weakness and God's strength, a bridge over which he can walk into the hearts of men." Helen Smith Shoemaker. Pray for our country and our leaders! Warm Thoughts from Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record April 1st, 1997.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

I've had many warm thoughts this past week, as I have been given cards, well wishes, flowers, thoughts and prayers. It has been uplifting to receive them while I'm recuperating in the hospital. On the day of my accident, the birds were flying high in the sky. It was a beautiful sight as they flew in formation, I couldn't help but remember what was written by an unknown author: "Unity: A Lesson from the Geese." As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds a 71% longer flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson - people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they travel on the thrust of one another. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. Lesson - if we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose takes over at the point position. Lesson - it pays to take turns during the hard tasks and sharing leadership, because people like geese are interdependent. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Lesson - we need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, not something less helpful. When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, either with another formation or to catch up with the original flock. Lesson - if we have as much sense as the geese, we'll stand by each other like they do. Warm Thoughts: Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. Spring is here. Enjoy! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta, G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record March 28th, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When you read this column, many of you will be wearing green and celebrating St. Patrick's Day in your own sweet way. It is interesting that this day is a great day, not only for the Irish, but is observed throughout the country. The day is three days before the first day of spring, and wearing green reminds us of the season of spring and is symbolic of life. The wearing of the green on St. Patrick's Day has long been featured in our country. This little poem says it so well: "St. Patrick, it was who started the style, let's wear a bit of green for the Irish - a cheer; for the Shamrock - a smile. Let's all wear a little bit of green." In my research on St. Patrick's Day, I found that March 17th was the day St. Patrick died in AD 461. He was a Christian missionary to Ireland in the fifth century, and the founder of many schools and churches. St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, is their greatest holiday, as well as holy day, and this day is celebrated by Irish families all over the world. The Shamrock is Ireland's chief emblem. I found it interesting that a town named for it is in the warm sunshine state of Florida. Each year, many persons send letters there to be stand with the Shamrock postmark. I have always been impressed with the Irish wit and the Blarney of my Irish friends. I love their sense of humor and all those motivational skills they seem to be born with. I had always wished for a bit of Irish ancestry in my heritage, but in my genealogy studies have found none. I have chosen some very special friends who have been blessed with all that Irish wit and wisdom. One of those friends has her birthday the day before St. Patrick's Day, and we have been friends since high school days. We have shared our joys and sorrows, our challenges and our dreams. We shared those on the job training, experiences of parenting and now grandparenting. She is a true friend who revealed to me she has prayed every day for me. No wonder she is my cheerleader. How thankful one needs to be when you have a very special friend. As we see the signs of spring appearing, many warm thoughts fill our hearts and minds. Underneath that blanket of snow, there is life, and the snow birds of Florida and Texas are returning to the north and the heartland of America. May the season of spring have special meaning in our lives. A bit of Irish wit: "Where beauty has no ebb, decay, no flood, but joy is wisdom, time, and endless song." WB Yeats - "In the Land of Hearts Desire. A Warm Thought for the Week: "It is often just as sacred to laugh as it is to pray." Charles R Swindoll. Have a great week and remember to laugh and pray! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record March 17th, 1994Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina